It’s been said often among enthusiasts that, for the money, you really can’t get a higher performing car with all of the enthusiasm and sporty character of the Mazda MX-5 Miata. The 2015 Grand Touring PRHT (power retractable hard top) in this review is the company’s last offering before a complete redo of the roadster for the 2016 model year. And boy, does the new model have some big shoes to fill.

Consumer Reports recently released its 10 Top Picks of 2015, and while the Tesla Model S won the overall best car award for the second consecutive year, some of the other winners might really surprise you. After years of mediocre product offerings, depressed sales and recall woes, American automaker General Motors saw two of its cars mixing it up with the best of the best.

At the 2015 Chicago Auto Show, General Motors debuted a refresh of its Chevrolet Equinox, the highest volume Chevrolet model­—excluding the Silverado pickup truck. Consumers looking for major changes will be disappointed, as the mid-cycle update is more of an “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” refresh. However, the brand is hoping it mixed things up enough this time around to keep the model fresh over the coming years.

For 2016, the refreshed RDX received more technology, an improved powertrain and enhanced interior treatments. By adding optional fog lights as well as new LED headlights, the updated lighting design keeps with the illumination scheme seen on the rest of the brand’s lineup. Powertrain improvements include a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 279 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque. Engineers were able to raise the fuel economy of the RDX by utilizing cylinder deactivation technology. The 2016 front-wheel drive model is capable of achieving 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. All-wheel drive versions see one mpg less in both city and highway driving.

Focusing more on the interests of the mainstream buyer, the Chicago Auto Show is the preeminent consumer event of the auto show season. Consequently, automakers were keen on showcasing products that are most impactful for everyday consumers. Crossovers and SUVs from Honda, Acura and Chevrolet stood out from the pack, while concept vehicles from Kia and Mitsubishi hinted at what may be to come in their utility vehicle lineups. Of course, the stars of the recent major auto shows in Los Angeles and Detroit came in full force as well, and we were sure to get another look at some of the most exciting models.

While not the flashiest auto show, Chicago plays an important role for consumers and we were sure to capture the event for you through the digital lens. Be sure to check out our Facebook photo album and Twitter feed to revisit all that transpired.

Arguably the most anticipated press conference in Chicago, Honda took center stage and showcased its all-new Pilot. Last redesigned in 2009, the current boxy look of Honda’s SUV fell behind the style trend as competing crossovers moved toward more fluid, sleeker design language. Shifting sales within the segment reflected consumer affinity for less utilitarian styling, with Pilot deliveries falling by 14 percent year-over-year in 2014, while the industry exhibited 6 percent growth. For a model that realized 1.4 million sales in North America since its 2002 introduction, its recent performance has been uncharacteristic of a vehicle that has contributed to roughly 25% of Honda’s light truck deliveries over the past dozen years.

The new luxury car market has performed quite well this past year. In an effort to not be left out of the action, Kia has created a new flagship sedan, the K900. Ryan Morris, senior editor at NADA Used Car Guide explains the greatest value points of this luxo-barge, along with how well it retains value.

Wholesale prices for used vehicles up to eight years in age remain essentially unchanged through the first half of February with average prices increasing by only 0.2%. This month’s sluggish preliminary results can certainly be attributed to brutal winter weather and frigid temperatures throughout most of the country, especially parts of the northeast―like Boston.

According to AutoTrader.com, a nicely equipped 2014 CTS can be purchased for as much as $17,000 off of MSRP. A 2014 ATS can be had for as much as $13,000 off, assuming the purchaser qualifies for all available incentives currently offered. The two biggest problems Cadillac faces are that the CTS and ATS are overpriced and overproduced. While they’re great driving cars, higher MSRP’s have kept potential buyers out of showrooms.

For Honda, the focus on advanced engineering doesn’t apply to just cars. The company has deep roots in the motorcycle industry as well, which includes participating in the top racing series in the world, MotoGP.

For the last two years, the number one spot on the championship podium has gone to the Repsol Honda team and its rider, Marc Marquez. The winning man rode Honda’s RC213V bike to victory in 13 of 18 races last season, breaking the record set during the 1997 500cc World Championship by former Repsol Honda rider, Mick Doohan. As a result, motorcycle consumers are treated with several trickle-down technologies created for the track via the RC213V-S Prototype. For simplicity’s sake, the superbike is the equivalent of a street-legal F1 car.